Main Menu:

Town Creek Indian Mound

Town Creek Indian Mound is an unusual phenomenon in the history of North American archaeology. Most archaeological sites are investigated for a few years and then… archaeologists move on to new locations. Where long-range research has been conducted, it has often been under several directors and different plans of research. Town Creek, situated on Little River (a tributary of the Great Pee Dee in central North Carolina), has been the focus of a consistent program of archaeological research under one director for more than half a century.

This research has contributed to scientific understanding of the original inhabitants of our continent and has provided educational opportunities for many graduate and undergraduate students in anthropology. Moreover, these contributions to science and higher education were made as the site contributed directly to public education.

Town Creek is one of the most popular State Historic Sites in North Carolina.

Leland G. Ferguson
Chair, Department of Anthropology
University of South Carolina

— from his foreword to archaeologist Joffre Lanning Coe's study, Town Creek Indian Mound: A Native American Legacy (UNC Press, 1995)

Maps of Town Creek

Resources

Upcoming Events

March 17:Under the StarsSaturday, 7 - 10 pmJoin us for an evening beneath one of the last great dark sky sites in the North Carolina piedmont! The evening begins at 7pm in the auditorium with "What's Up?!," a 15-minute Stellarium-based introduction to, and lecture on, what's visible this evening. The program includes a guided tour of the night sky, constellation descriptions and mythologies, and discussions of other astronomical sights you'll see as part of Town Creek Under the Stars. Then, at 7:30 in the village, Site telescopes will be available, or bring your own to observe the Orion Nebula, and constellations including Orion, Canis Major, and Taurus. Participants should dress for the weather and may wish to bring a red light to help them see in the darkness. Chairs and blankets welcome! Free, though registration is required. Registration for this, and other Town Creek events, can be found at https://goo.gl/qtmPth

Through April 14:Rich in the RareTuesdays - Saturdays, 9 am - 5 pmSundays, 1 - 5 pm"Rich in the Rare," a temporary exhibit showcasing some of North Carolina's seldom-seen plant and animal species, is coming March 3rd through April 14th!

This exhibit includes panels, wooden carvings, and children's interactives that engage the visitor in a better understanding of unique species that call the Old North State home. Terms that relate to the health of populations, including "extinct," "endangered," and "threatened" are defined, while other panels highlight some of the state's most unique habitats; from the mountains to the coast, as well as several species native to each. Content also encourages people to help protect wildlife and environments.

"I can think of no better location to host this exhibit," said Site Assistant and naturalist Ethan Greene. "Town Creek is uniquely situated between the Uwharrie National Forest and Pee Dee National Wildlife Refuge, where the piedmont gives way to the sandhills, and is part of the North Carolina Birding Trail. It is a transition zone that allows a variety of species to overlap and a healthy flyway for migratory fowl.

Wood carver, Jim Carpenter, has created replicas of the extinct Carolina parakeet and the endangered red-cockaded woodpecker to travel with the exhibit. Carpenter lives in Pfafftown and teaches woodcarving at both the Sawtooth Center of Visual Arts in Winston-Salem and the John Campbell Folk School in Brasstown.

Additionally, visitors may enjoy a one hour guided, interpretive stroll through the natural areas of the site, learning about the local flora and fauna, on March 3rd or March 24th. Group size is limited for these guided nature walks, and while participation is free, registration is recommended.

The North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources created this traveling exhibit to help cultural and heritage institutions statewide connect with local communities.